Paperboard carrier for cans



March 26, 1957 H. a. GENTRY PAPERBOARD CARRIER FOR CANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 4, 1954 ign? INVENTOR- HERMOND 6. 661179) 5' ATTORNEY:

March 26, 1957 I GENTRY 2,786,572

PAPERBOARD CARRIER FOR CANS Filed Oct. 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I: g..7

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c 4 c 1 11 1 M w 111 w INVENTOR. HERMO/VD 6. GENTR) ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 2,786,572 PAPERBOARD CARRIER FOR CANS Hennond G. Gentry,Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Atlanta Paper Company, a corporation ofGeorgia Application October 4, 1954, Serial No. 459,918

11 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to carriers for cans andmore particularly to a simple wrapper form of paperboard carrier adaptedfor packaging and carrying a desired number of beer cans. Withappropriate changes in size the carrier can be made to accommodate 2, 4,6 or any desired number of cans. This form of carrier utilizes a minimumamount of paperboard by eliminating the llcCCsSiiY for any end closures.

Carriers of this type as manufactured heretofore depend upon the use ofglue or other adhesive for holding together the overlapping bottom walledges when the cartier is wrapped about a load of cans. The requiredsetting or drying time for this application of glue prolongs thepackaging operation and thereby limits the hourly or daily production ofcompleted packages ready for handling or shipment.

One of the features of the carrier of the present invention is theprovision of a highly effective locking means at the overlapping edgeportions of the carrier blank that form the bottom wall of the carrier.This locking means can be employed so as to eliminate any gluing of theoverlapping bottom wall edges of the carrier, if desired, or it can beused in addition to the glue application so as initially to hold thecarrier securely after it has been loaded with cans and allow the glueto dry and set up while the loaded carrier is in storage or disposed ina shipping carton. without limiting the speed of the packaging opcrationby the glue application.

In accordance with the present invention, the can carrier may consist ofa single blank of paperboard scored at spaced intervals so as to form arectangular package when the blank is folded along the score lines, andhaving the two end portions of the blank formed with cooperating tabsspaced along the end edges. These tabs are so shaped and arranged as toengage each other and provide a positive lock at the bottom wall of thecarrier when it is filled. Originally these tabs are slit in thepaperboard blank to remain flat and flush with the surface of the blankuntil manipulated into locking engagement during the packaging operationto secure the carrier about a load of caias. The spacing of the tabs issuch as to arrange them at the dead space between adjacent cans forclearance during their interlocking manipulation, and the respectivecooperating tabs are arranged to maintain their engagement in thisclearance space once they have been interlocked.

These and other features of the present invention are described infurther detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a paperboard carrier embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a suitable blank for forming the carrierillustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the carrier shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 44 inFig. 3; and

2,786,572 Patented Mar. 26, 1957 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transversesectional detail taken substantially on the line 55 in Fig. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a top wall panel 10 in which suitablehand hold apertures are provided as at 12, a pair of side wall panels 14foldably hinged at opposite edges of the top wall panel 10, and a pairof bottom wall half laps 16 and 18 foldably hinged at the respectivebottom edges of the pair of side wall panels 14 and proportioned tooverlap at their extending edge portions to form a rectangularfour-sided carrier having the ends thereof entirely open as seen in Fig.1.

The top wall panel 10, side wall panels 14, and bottom wall half laps l6and 18 comprise portions of a unitary blank (see Fig. 2) which isrectangular in form and is transversely scored to arrange these portionsin a foldably hinged series, with all of the portions having an equallength that is substantially equal to a multiple of the diameter of cansto be loaded in the carrier as illustrated at C in Figs. 3 and 4. Thebottom wall half laps l6 and 18 when overlapped form a bottom wallhaving a width equal to that of the top wall panel 10 and substantiallyequal to twice the diameter of the cans C so that the carrier isarranged to support two rows of cans C between the pair of side wallpanels 14, and each side wall panel 14 is suitably notched adjacent itsfoldably hinged edges to provide positioning slots for the cans C alongeach side wall as indicated at 20.

The carrier of the present invention as arranged in the above notedmanner is adapted to be applied as a wrapper to a load of cans C duringa packaging operation, and the overlapping edge portions of the bottomwall half laps 16 and 18 are formed according to the present inventionfor engagement to secure the carrier in place as a wrapper without, ifdesired, requiring any glue application at the overlapped bottom wallseam. For this purpose, the inner bottom wall half lap 16 has a seriesof spaced retaining tabs 22 and 22' slit along the overlapping edgeportion thereof, and the outer bottom wall half lap 18 has a relatedseries of locking tabs 24 and 24' slit in the overlapping edge portionthereof.

Both of the tab series 22 and 22 and 24 and 24' are arranged to remainhinged or attached to the bottom wall half laps l6 and 18 remotely withrespect to the extending edges thereof, so that they are arranged tofold in opposed relation, and the hinged extent or unattached extendinglength of the retaining tabs 22 and 22' is made slightly greater thanthat of the locking tabs 24 and 24' so that the latter may be extendedinwardly through the overlapping edge portion of the inner bottom wallhalf lap 16 at the respective retaining tabs 22 and 22 therein. Aspreviously mentioned, the spacing of the tab series 22 and 22, and 24and 24, is such as to locate the respective end tabs of each series atthe dead spaces between adjacent cans C as disposed in the carrier (seeFig. 4), and thereby employ this dead space to provide clearance formanipulating the tabs into locking engagement. The end tabs 22' and 24'of each series are preferably slit on an angled axis for arranging themto the best advantage in the more restricted dead space availablebetween adjacent cans C at each end of the carrier.

The locking tabs 24 and 24' are further specially formed with widenedextending end portions forming shoulders thereon as at 26 and 26' whichare proportioned to overlie the inner bottom wall half lap 16 at eachside of the retaining tabs 22 and 22' (as seen best in Fig. 4) andthereby effect a locking engagement between the bottom wall half laps l6and 18. Preferably, the widened extending end portions of the lockingtabs 24 and 24 are tapered toward their extending end so as to give thema pointed form for facilitating extension of the T TT locking tabs 24and 24' inwardly through the inner bot tom wall half lap 16 to effectthe above noted locking engagement.

Upon extension of the locking tabs 24 and 24' into this lockingengagement, the retaining tabs 22 and 22 are displaced upwardly, as seenbest in Fig. 5, to remain in partially overlying relation at theextending ends of the locking tabs 24 and 24' so as to bias the engagedlocking tabs 24 and 24' in place. This arrangement of the retaining tabs22 and 22 has substantial advantage in maintaining the locking tabs 24and 24' securely in locking engagement, although the retaining tabs 22and 22 may be eliminated, if desired, to leave only slotted openings atthe overlapping edge portion of the inner bottom wall half lap 16 forengagement by the locking tabs 24 and 24.

The bottom wall half laps l6 and 18 are each further advantageouslyformed with apertures 28 and 30 spaced from the ends thereof and fromthe adjacent side wall panel 14 for location within the diameter of anend can C loaded in the carrier so as to provide clearance at theseapertures 28 and 30 for gripping the bottom wall half laps l6 and 18 andholding them in proper overlapping relation while the locking tabs 24and 24 are manipulated into locking engagement.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes ofillustration only and is not intended to be limited by this descriptionor otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A package of cylindrical objects, such as cans, said packagecomprising a four-sided wrapper with open ends and at least one row ofsaid objects tightly enclosed thereby, said wrapper comprising arectangular paperboard blank scored transversely and transversely foldedabout said objects and having its end portions overlapped at an end ofsaid objects, and means securing the wrapper end portions togethercomprising respectively aligned locking and retaining tabs cut out insaid end portions in alignment with the space in said package resultingfrom the cylindrical form of said objects, each retaining tab beingsubstantially rectangular with parallel side edges extending from itsbase and being initially positioned with its free end lying at the baseof the respective overlying locking tab, each locking tab having a widthadjacent its base slightly less than the spacing of said parallelretaining tab side edges and having laterally projecting shouldersformed thereon in closely spaced relation from said base and in aprojecting width substantially greater than the spacing of said parallelretaining tab side edges,

the length of each locking tab being slightly less than that of therespective retaining tab, and each locking tab in securing positionbeing extended from the end portion in which it is cut out inwardlythrough the other end portion at the opening therein formed by therespective cut out retaining tab and being held at said securingposition by said retaining tab.

2. A package of cylindrical objects as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized in that two rows of said objects are enclosed by saidwrapper, and said locking and retaining labs are cut out in saidoverlapped wrapper end portions medially with respect to said rows.

3. A package of cylindrical objects as defined in claim 2 and furthercharacterized in that locking and retaining tabs are arranged inalignment at each medial space between said rows including the medialspaces at the ends of said rows, and the locking and retaining tabs atsaid medial end spaces are cut out on an angled axis for arrangement tothe best advantage in the relatively restricted medial spaces at saidrow ends.

4. A package of cylindrical objects as defined in claim 2 and furthercharacterized in that said overlapped wrapper end portions each haveapertures cut out therein at locations within the diameters ofrespective objects in said rows, whereby said end portions may begripped at til) said apertures to draw said wrapper tightly about saidobjects and hold said end portions in proper overlapping relation formanipulation of said locking tabs to securing position.

5. A paperboard blank forming a four-sided wrapper with open ends topackage cylindrical objects, such as cans, arranged in at least one row,said blank having an elongated rectangular form and having fourtransverse score lines therein spaced for defining a first panelarranged centrally with respect to the length of said blank, :1 pair ofpanels foldably hinged at opposite edges of said first panel, and a pairof lap panels foldably hinged respectively at the edges of said pair ofpanels opposite said first panel edges, said blank having a widthcorresponding to the multiple diameter of the objects in said row to bepackaged, the score lines defining said first panel being spaced incorrespondence with the diameter of said objects multiplied by thenumber of rows, the score lines defining said pair of panels beingspaced in correspondence with the height of said objects, and said pairof lap panels being proportioned for forming a composite panelcorresponding in width to said first panel with end portions of said lappanels overlapping, said lap panels having respectively aligned lockingand retaining tabs cut out therein in alignment with the space betweensaid objects, when packaged in a row, that results from the cylindricalform thereof, each retaining tab being substantially rectangular withparallel side edges extending from its base and being positioned so thatits free end will lie at the base of the respective overlying lockingtab when a composite panel is formed by said pair of lap panels, eachlocking tab having a width adjacent its base slightly less than thespacing of said parallel retaining tab side edges and having laterallyprojecting shoulders formed thereon in closely spaced relation from saidbase and in a projecting width substantially greater than the spacing ofsaid parallel retaining tab side edges, and the length of each lockingtab being slightly less than that of the respective retaining tab,whereby each locking tab may be extended from the lap panel in which itis formed inwardly through the opening formed by the respectiveretaining tab cut out in the other lap panel of said pair for securingsaid pair of lap panels as a composite panel and maintaining said row ofobjects tightly enclosed within the wrapper formed by said blank.

6. A paperboard blank forming a four-sided packaging wrapper having openends, said blank being elongated and rectangular in form and having fourtransverse score lines therein spaced for defining a first panelarranged centrally with respect to the length of said blank, a pair ofpanels foldably hinged at opposite edges of said first panel, and a pairof lap panels foldably hinged respectively at the edges of said pair ofpanels opposite said first panel edges, said pair of lap panels beingproportioned for forming a composite panel corresponding in width tosaid first panel with end portions of said lap panels overlapping, saidlap panels having respectively aligned locking and retaining tabs cutout therein, each retaining tab being substantially rectangular withparallel side edges extending from its base and being positioned so thatits free end will lie at the base of the respective overlying lockingtab when a composite panel is formed by said pair of lap panels, eachlocking tab having a width adjacent its base slightly less than thespacing of said parallel retaining tab side edges and having laterallyprojecting shoulders formed thereon in closely spaced relation from saidbase and in a projecting width substantially greater than the spacing ofsaid parallel retaining tab side edges, and the length of each lockingtab being slightly less than that of the respective retaining tab,whereby each locking tab may be extended from the lap panel in which itis formed inwardly through the opening formed by the respectiveretaining tab cut out in the other lap panel of said pair for st airingsaid lap panels as a composite panel.

7. A package of cylindrical objects, such as cans, said packagecomprising a four-sided wrapper with open ends and at least one row ofsaid objects tightly enclosed thereby, said wrapper comprising arectangular paperboard blank scored transversely and transversly foldedabout said objects and having its end portions overlapped at an end ofsaid objects, and means securing the wrapper end portions togethercomprising respectively aligned locking and retaining tabs cut out insaid end portions in alignment with the space in said package resultingfrom the cylindrical form of said objects, each retaining tab beingsubstantially rectangular with parallel side edges extending from itsbase and being initially positioned with its free end lying at the baseof the respective overlying locking tab, each locking tab having a widthadjacent its base slightly less than the spacing of said parallelretaining tab side edges and having laterally projecting shouldersformed thereon in closely spaced relation from said base and in aprojecting width substantially greater than the spacing of said parallelretaining tab ide edges. and each locking tab in securing position beingextended from the end portion in which it is cut out inwardly throughthe other end portion at the opening therein formed by the respectivecut out retaining tab and being held at said securing position by saidretaining tab.

8. A paperboard blank forming a four-sided wrapper with open ends topackage cylindrical objects, such as cans, arranged in at least one row,said blank having an elongated rectangular form and having fourtransverse score lines therein spaced for defining a first panelarranged centrally with respect to the length of said blank, a pair ofpanels foldably hinged at opposite edges of said first panel. and a pairof lap panels foldably hinged respectively at the edges of said pair ofpanels opposite said first panel edges. said blank having a widthcorresponding to the multiple diameter of the objects in said row to bepackaged. the score line defining said first panel being spaced incorrespondence with the diameter of said objects multiplied by thenumber of rows, the score lines defining said pair of panels beingspaced in correspondence with the height of said objects, and said pairof lap panels being proportioned for forming a composite panelcorresponding in width to said first panel with end portions of said lappanels overlapping, said lap panels having respectively aligned lockingand retaining tabs cut out therein in alignment with the space betweensaid objects, when packaged in a row, that re- Sults from thecylindrical form thereof, each retaining tab being substantiallyrectangular with parallel side edges extending from its base and beingpositioned so that its free end will lie at the base of the respectiveoverlying locking tab when a composite panel is formed by said pair oflap panels, each locking tab having a width adjacent its base slightlyless than the spacing of said parallel retaining tab side edges andhaving laterally projecting shoulders formed thereon in closely spacedrelation from said base and in a projecting width substantially greaterthan the spacing of said parallel reraining tab side edges, whereby eachlocking tab may be extended from the lap panel in which it is formedinwardly through the opening formed by the respective retaining tab cutout in the other lap panel of said pair for securing said pair of lappanels as a composite panel and maintaining said row of objects tightlyenclosed within the wrapper formed by said blank 9. A package ofcylindrical objects, such as cans, said package comprising a four-sidedwrapper with open ends and at least one row of said objects tightlyenclosed thereby said wrapper comprising a rectangular paperboard blankscored transversely and transversely folded about said objects andhaving its end portions secured by means comprising locking tabs cut outin one of said end portions in alignment with the space in said packageresulting from the cylindrical form of said objects and respectivelyaligned with openings cut out in the other of said end portions, each ofsaid openings being substantially rectangular with parallel side edgesextending longitudinally of said blank from an end edge spaced inparallel relation with respect to the adjacent end of said blank andlying at the base of the respectively aligned locking tab. each lockingtab having a width adjacent its base slightly less than the spacing ofthe parallel side edges of said openings and having laterally projectingshoulders formed thereon in closely spaced relation from the locking tabbase with a projecting width substantially greater than the spacing ofsaid parallel \idc edges. and each locking tab in securing positionbeing extended from the end portion in which it is cut out inwardlythrough the other end portion at the respective opening formed therein.

10. A package of cylindrical objects, such as cans, said packagecomprising a four-sided wrapper with open ends and at least one row ofsaid objects tightly enclosed thereby, said wrapper comprising arectangular paperboard blank scored transversely and transversely foldedabout said objects and having its end ortions lapped at an end of saidobjects, and means securing the wrapper end portions together comprisingrespectively aligned locking and retaining tabs cut out in said endportions in alignment with the space in said package resulting from thecylindrical form of said objects. each retaining tab being substantiallyrectangular with parallel side edges extending from its base and beinginitially positioned with its free end lying at the base of therespective overlying locking tab. each locking tab having a widthadjacent its base approximately the same as the spacing of said parallelretaining tab side edges and having laterally projecting shouldersformed thereon in closely spaced relation from said base and in aprojecting width substantially greater than the spacing of said parallelretaining tab side edges, the length of each locking tab being slightlyless than that of the respective retaining tabs. and each locking tab insecuring position being extended from the end portion in which it is cutout inwardly through the other end portion at the opening therein formedby the respective cut out retaining tab and being held at said securingposition by said retaining tab.

11. A package of cylindrical objects, such as cans, said packagecomprising a four-sided wrapper with open ends and at least one row ofsaid objects tightly enclosed thereby. said wrapper comprising anelongated paperboard blank scored transversely and transversely foldedabout said objects and having its end portions secured by meanscomprising locking tabs formed in one of said end portions in alignmentwith the space in said package resulting from the cylindrical form ofsaid objects and respectively aligned with openings cut out in the otherof said end portions. each of said openings having parallel side edgesextending longitudinally of said blank from an end edge spaced inparallel relation with respect to the adjacent end of said blank andlying at the base of the respectively aligned locking tab, each lockingtab having a width liLljJCCfll its base not greater than the spacing ofthe parallel side edges of said openings and having laterally projectingshoulders formed thereon in closely spaced relation from the locking tabbase with a projecting width substantially greater than the spacing ofsaid parallel side edges, and each locking tab in securing positionbeing extended from the end portion in which it is formed inwardlythrough the other end portion at the respective opening formed therein.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Steam July 8, 1952 Chidsey, 1r. July 22,1952 Gibbons July 21, 1953 Turner Sept. 28, I954 FOREIGN PATENTS GreatBritain Sept. 7, 1933

